Anarcho-syndicalist perspective on "Brexit"

Submitted by syndicalist on March 12, 2019

Sorry if I'm late to the dance.

Is there an anarcho-syndicalist perspective on "Brexit"? Please limit replies to anarcho-syndicalist or positions that are libertarian and close to anarcho-syndicalism.

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 17, 2019

Nada?

Jim

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Jim on March 17, 2019

syndicalist

Nada?

Most anarcho-syndicalists I know voted 'remain' in the referendum because they saw it as a plebiscite on immigration rather than a referendum on EU membership. A significant proportion of anarcho-syndicalists didn't vote because neither choice on the ballot was appealing.

tyneside anarchist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by tyneside anarchist on March 17, 2019

European capitalism..or homegrown....no difference

R Totale

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on March 17, 2019

Yeah, it's the kind of subject that it's hard to have a distinctively anarcho-syndicalist take on, because a-s tends to focus its attention away from politics at the state/government level and Brexit is all about that. Beyond "we don't take sides in the bosses' fights", I don't know how much more there is to say.

darren p

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on March 18, 2019

tyneside anarchist

European capitalism..or homegrown....no difference

Unless you’re an EU worker living in the UK or a UK worker living in the EU...

That was discussed more in this thread:

http://libcom.org/forums/theory/eu-roads-travel-13012019

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 18, 2019

I figured someone might have written an analysis
Of the historical situation, etc brining on this idea,
that's all. Yeah, I get a plague on both your houses
thing and would've expected that. Yeah, prolly should've
figured that's all to expect.

Jim

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Jim on March 18, 2019

Have you seen the Aufheben article?

https://libcom.org/library/brexit-means%E2%80%A6-what-hapless-ideology-practical-consequences

darren p

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on March 18, 2019

Not anarcho-syndicalist but the IWGB originated from a split with the IWW UK. This is what they said about Brexit:

IWGB President Henry Chango Lopez

As migrant and precarious workers we have had to fight tooth and nail to win even the most basic rights and dignity at work. Losing EU employment law protections would mean we lose a vital weapon in our arsenal against exploitative bosses. That's why we need a people's vote. To stop a Brexit that will most likely be a carnival for profiteering companies and a curse for UK workers, not least, those at the bottom of the pile.
https://www.iwgb.org.uk/en/post/5bfcf93d5df02/iwgb-joins-call-for-a

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 18, 2019

Jim

Have you seen the Aufheben article?

https://libcom.org/library/brexit-means%E2%80%A6-what-hapless-ideology-practical-consequences

Now I have. Thx

R Totale

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on March 18, 2019

Along with this critique of it: https://nothingiseverlost.wordpress.com/2016/11/13/brexit-means-the-sky-is-falling-how-aufheben-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-eu/
Trying hard to think of other stuff: The WSM have written quite a bit about Brexit (possibly more than some UK-based groups?), see for instance http://wsm.ie/c/brexit-border-poll-anarchist-view and http://wsm.ie/brexit
The New Syndicalist said that they were gonna run a series on populism, which I guess is relevant, they don't seem to have written much of it so far though: https://newsyndicalist.org/2019/02/09/threat-and-potential-populism-editorial/
The Angry Workers of the World do some of the best analysis of the contemporary UK situation imo, see https://angryworkersworld.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/migration-and-national-social-democracy-in-britain/ and https://angryworkersworld.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/tragedy-and-comedy-in-the-uk-a-short-report/

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 18, 2019

R Totale

Yeah, it's the kind of subject that it's hard to have a distinctively anarcho-syndicalist take on, because a-s tends to focus its attention away from politics at the state/government level and Brexit is all about that. Beyond "we don't take sides in the bosses' fights", I don't know how much more there is to say.

Alas, all the links you found.....so there's something people are saying (wink,wink, smile, grin)

R Totale

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on March 18, 2019

Fair point, I think I was tripped up by the anarcho-syndicalist part, I did try to think of any more explicitly a-s takes about "here's how Brexit could affect the possibilities for a revolutionary union movement" or even "here's how a revolutionary union movement could affect Brexit" but was drawing a blank on that score.

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 19, 2019

Anarcho-Syndicaliste do see things beyond a revolutionary unionist perspective. How do things affect the working class and social aspects as well. I was mainly interested in a non left communist viewpoint, one closer to an anarcho-syndicalist. Anarcho-syndicalists are not usually the best writers (self-criticism here as well). Though we do some good shorter newspaper type stuff, which might be out there and have not seen. But, hey, all links welcome at this point.

R Totale

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on March 20, 2019

If you haven't already, I'd really recommend the other thread darren p linked to above, it has contributions from a range of viewpoints, as well as links to AF and ACG statements.

syndicalist

5 years 8 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on March 21, 2019

Thank you all for your links and contributions.